PwC Report Backs Small-Scale LNG

Houlder’s confidence in small scale LNG sector growth has been supported by a key industry report. “Small going big. Why small-scale LNG may be the next big wave” from PwC identifies small scale LNG (ssLNG) as an already profitable, scalable niche industry with significant potential. According to the report’s authors, “the segment is not yet on the radar of many industry participants. It should be.” Neil Ferguson, Houlder’s LNG Storage and Distribution Director explains why this is important to the employee owned engineering business’s future. “Houlder thrives in new industries as demonstrated by our impact on North Sea oil and gas and, more recently, our innovations in offshore wind. Our engineering and design teams love the challenge of designing new infrastructure.”

Houlder has been developing ssLNG infrastructure steadily over the last five years. At the beginning of 2017, it announced a memorandum of understanding with specialists KLAW LNG. This new collaboration built on both companies experience to develop new bunker and transfer solutions in response to the increased potential reported by PwC. The joint Houlder / KLAW LNG team are working together to deliver the KHobra systems providing safe and efficient Ship-to-Ship and Shore-to-Ship LNG transfer. Alongside any new equipment, the collaboration offers clients a full set of services available world-wide including vessel installation and integration, site assistance and support.

The KHobra transfer system is a key component of a Floating Transfer Terminal self-propelled barge (pictured below), developed by Houlder, Wärtsilä and Trelleborg, that shuttles to and from LNG vessels moored as far as 800m offshore. Trelleborg CRYOLINE LNG Floating Hoses can then transfer of LNG and Boil Off Gas between the barge and any shore facility without a fixed jetty. The FTT is a flexible, quickly deployable solution that, thanks to a low draft barge and floating hoses, can operate in the widest possible range of locations at a fraction of the cost of fixed infrastructure.

“All this work reflects the confidence Houlder and its partners have in ssLNG” concludes Neil. “The PwC report concludes that companies with agility who can build partnerships across the LNG value chain will benefit from being first movers. It’s an approach we not only recognise, but fully embrace.”